# Minister for Culture and the Arts (Western Australia)

The Minister for Culture and the Arts is a position in the Cabinet of Western Australia. It was first created in 1971, during the Tonkin government, under the title Minister for Cultural Affairs. That title was retained until 1983, when the title Minister for the Arts was adopted. The current title was adopted in 2001.
The current Minister for Culture and the Arts is David Templeman of the Labor Party, who holds the position as a member of the McGowan Ministry. The minister, who generally also holds other portfolios, is responsible for the state government's Department of Culture and the Arts.

## List of ministers for culture and the arts

Thirteen people have been appointed as Minister for Culture and the Arts or equivalent. Sheila McHale, who served in both the Gallop and Carpenter governments, held the position for the longest period, 7 years and 220 days. David Parker had two non-consecutive terms as minister, initially in the Burke government and then across the Dowding and Lawrence governments, although he served for just over three years.
In the table below, members of the Legislative Council are designated "MLC". All others were members of the Legislative Assembly at the time of their service. In Western Australia, serving ministers are entitled to be styled "The Honourable", and may retain the style after three years' service in the ministry.
| Order | Minister | Party | Premier | Title | Term start | Term end | Term in office |
| 1 | John Tonkin | Labor | Tonkin | Minister for Cultural Affairs | 3 March 1971 (1971-03-03) | 8 April 1974 (1974-04-08) | 3 years, 36 days |
| 2 | Graham MacKinnon MLC | Liberal | C. Court | Minister for Cultural Affairs | 8 April 1974 (1974-04-08) | 10 March 1977 (1977-03-10) | 2 years, 336 days |
| 3 | Peter Jones | National Country | C. Court | Minister for Cultural Affairs | 10 March 1977 (1977-03-10) | 5 March 1980 (1980-03-05) | 2 years, 361 days |
| 4 | Bill Grayden | Liberal | C. Court | Minister for Cultural Affairs | 5 March 1980 (1980-03-05) | 25 January 1982 (1982-01-25) | 1 year, 326 days |
| 5 | Bob Pike MLC | Liberal | O'Connor | Minister for Cultural Affairs | 25 January 1982 (1982-01-25) | 25 February 1983 (1983-02-25) | 1 year, 31 days |
| 6 | Ron Davies | Labor | Burke | Minister for the Arts | 25 February 1983 (1983-02-25) | 26 February 1986 (1986-02-26) | 3 years, 1 day |
| 7 | David Parker | Labor | Burke | Minister for the Arts | 26 February 1986 (1986-02-26) | 25 February 1988 (1988-02-25) | see below |
| 8 | Yvonne Henderson | Labor | Dowding | Minister for the Arts | 25 February 1988 (1988-02-25) | 28 February 1989 (1989-02-28) | 1 year, 3 days |
| (7) | David Parker | Labor | Dowding | Minister for the Arts | 28 February 1989 (1989-02-28) | 12 February 1990 (1990-02-12) | 3 years, 54 days |
| (7) | David Parker | Labor | Lawrence | Minister for the Arts | 12 February 1990 (1990-02-12) | 24 April 1990 (1990-04-24) | 3 years, 54 days |
| 9 | Kay Hallahan MLC | Labor | Lawrence | Minister for the Arts | 24 April 1990 (1990-04-24) | 16 February 1993 (1993-02-16) | 2 years, 298 days |
| 10 | Peter Foss MLC | Liberal | R. Court | Minister for the Arts | 16 February 1993 (1993-02-16) | 22 December 1999 (1999-12-22) | 6 years, 309 days |
| 11 | Mike Board | Liberal | R. Court | Minister for the Arts | 22 December 1999 (1999-12-22) | 16 February 2001 (2001-02-16) | 1 year, 56 days |
| 12 | Sheila McHale | Labor | Gallop | Minister for Culture and the Arts | 16 February 2001 (2001-02-16) | 25 January 2006 (2006-01-25) | 7 years, 220 days |
| 12 | Sheila McHale | Labor | Carpenter | Minister for Culture and the Arts | 25 January 2006 (2006-01-25) | 23 September 2008 (2008-09-23) | 7 years, 220 days |
| 13 | John Day | Liberal | Barnett | Minister for Culture and the Arts | 23 September 2008 (2008-09-23) | 17 March 2017 (2017-03-17) | 8 years, 175 days |
| 14 | David Templeman | Labor | McGowan | Minister for Culture and the Arts | 17 March 2017 (2017-03-17) | Incumbent | 7 years, 206 days |